No. 11

Wednesday

Mar 30, 2011 at 12:01 AMMar 30, 2011 at 3:56 PM

WASHINGTON: Regardless of how the last six games unfold, Blue Jackets winger Matt Calvert has enjoyed a productive rookie season. He's played 36 games, generated 17 points and recorded a hat trick in his 20th NHL game.

But the diminutive forward from the Plains of Manitoba doesn't want to sputter through the last 10 days. While the games are meaningless as they relate to the standings, they remain important to kids like Calvert. That's why last night's performance in a 3-2 shootout win over Florida was a satisfying one for him. He ended a seven-game scoreless drought with a secondary assist on Antoine Vermette's goal. Calvert was a noticeable as I've seen him in several games. He registered a shot, had a couple hits and kept his feet moving.

"That second assist was probably one of the best second assists I've gotten," said No. 11, all smiles in the locker room. "It's been a few games there (without a point) and I think I was just trying too hard to score."

After a dynamic start to his time in Columbus, Calvert seemed to reach his first wall. He was moving up in the lineup and opponents were becoming more attentive to the precocious 5-foot-9 winger.

Calvert was no longer putting shots on goal -- he has five in the past nine games -- in part because he wasn't getting himself into scoring areas. It happens, especially with young players. We're still seeing it with Jake Voracek three seasons into his career.

"(Last night) I decided to get two pucks on net and the bounces worked for us and it was nice to see," Calvert said.

Privately, the Jackets brass was interested to see how Calvert would react to his first mini-slump. Most players don't step out of the AHL and score 11 goals in their first 25 games. Calvert is a goalless in his last 11 games. He hasn't looked as quick and shifty as he did in February and early March. Guess what? It's a hard league. But last night Calvert was visible again, particularly after coach Scott Arniel dropped him from the first to second lines and teamed him with Vermette and R.J. Umberger.

The kid is a player and the only question is where he eventually settles into the lineup. Arniel wants to remodel his third line, shifting the emphasis from shutdown defending to goal scoring. It's a trend in the NHL, particularly among the top teams. I could picture Calvert being a part of the redesign, using his speed and industry at both ends of the rink.

He's a player Blue Jackets fans are going to appreciate in coming seasons.

-- Porty covered practice today and he should be along shortly with an update.

-- Tom Reed treed@dispatch.com Twitter: @TReedDispatch

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